Spain’s legendary tennis star registered a unique record after
his recent win in the semifinal of the
Bastad Open. The 37-year-old is often
regarded as the greatest player in the history of men’s tennis, having won as
many as 22 Grand Slam titles.
Nadal is currently participating in the Bastad Open, where
he booked his place in the final after beating Duje Ajdukovic in the semifinal
with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. That win has helped the former world number one cement
his spot in the final of an ATP event for the 131st time. Out of 130
finals in the past, Nadal has won 92 times, an astonishing achievement. Only four players in the history of men's tennis have played in more ATP finals than Nadal--Jimmy Connors (164), Roger Federer (157), Ivan Lendl (146)
and Novak Djokovic (139).
After the match, Nadal, while talking to the media, admitted that he is playing ‘much better’ than he did a few months back, which would be great news for his fans, especially ahead of the upcoming Paris Olympics. “I am
playing much better than two months ago,” he said. “But I must continue to
progress. I have to accept all the challenges that come and be willing to
suffer on the court to continue giving myself opportunities to succeed.”
Nadal has struggled with fitness concerns in the recent past, and it was because of this that he ended up missing three out of four Grand Slams in 2023. Last year, the legendary tennis star, while staying on the
sidelines because of an injury, announced that he would retire from
professional tennis at the end of the 2024 season. The Spaniard returned to the
court earlier this year but has been unable to live up to the expectations.
Therefore, his performance in the Bastad Open will give his fans a lot of optimism
to see him perform to the best of his ability in the Paris Olympics, on a surface where he won 14 Grand Slam titles in his illustrious career.
